Navigate to Homepage
Search
Main navigation
  

        
              Explore the Capitol Campus
                          Art
                            Buildings & Grounds
                            Capitol Hill Facts
                            Visitor Resources
                            Our Blog
                            What We Do
                          Areas of Expertise
                            Programs & Ceremonies
                            Projects
                            Publications
                            Strategic Objectives
                            About Us
                          Who We Are
                            History of the AOC
                            News & Notices
                            Organizational Structure
                            Partnerships & Recognition
                            Work With UsSearch Breadcrumb
    HomeExplore the Capitol CampusOur Blog
Designing with ADA in Mind

The AOC's Facilities Planning and Programming Division incorporates seemingly small improvements into the design of our facilities and their outside environments, helping not only those with disabilities, but each one of us.
By nancy skinkle |July 22, 2015
        
                  Image

*An accessible ramp at Senate Parks near the Senate Underground Garage.*

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and represents one of the country's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation as it prohibits discrimination and guarantees people with disabilities equal opportunity. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, the ADA forever changed the way architects and engineers approach design.

Prior to joining the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), I practiced architecture in the private sector. My professional career matured as the ADA was signed into law and guidelines established. In fact, the ADA Standards for Accessible Design was always at my desk for easy access! We would incorporate typical details into projects and always attempted to find an appropriate way for persons with disabilities to access the building – fully honoring equal access. But my experience was typically facility or building related.



Image*Kaylan Dunlap from Evan Terry Associates training a group of AOC employees on measuring for ADA Compliance.*

Over the past several years, my role at the Architect of the Capitol has blossomed to include Compliance Officer, whereby I help manage the many accessible findings from the Office of Compliance, mostly dealing with the natural environment outside of a facility. Barriers such as a one-half inch sidewalk crack or a one-half inch transition resulting from sidewalks that have been buckled by tree roots or cross slopes perpendicular to travel exceeding 2 percent had not been as meaningful to me since they involved the world outside of buildings.

It wasn't until attending an ADA coordinator conference and receiving training from a wheelchair-bound professional here at the AOC did I truly understand how valuable these seemingly small modifications were to simply achieving access around the campus.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is important to remind ourselves why it is a necessary and helpful piece of legislation. While seemingly only relevant to a small number of Americans, the impact that this law has had on society is quite far reaching. There are almost 57 million disabled Americans today, with 30.6 million of these individuals experiencing difficulties with mobility. Even though only about 19 percent of the American public actually experiences these disabilities, the impact is much broader. That's why it is so essential to remember that incorporating these seemingly small improvements into our design and planning helps not only a fraction of Americans, but each one of us!
Add new comment
    Your name
Email Address
        The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Comment
About text formats
Plain text
  
  
      
          No HTML tags allowed.
                      Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
                      Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
          
    
      Recent Stories
Related Articles
            
          History & Discoveries

  Evolution of Women in Art at the U.S. Capitol

An in-depth look at the evolution of women in art at the U.S. Capitol.
    History & Discoveries

  Capitol Illumination

Learn more about the history of lighting this iconic building including the part of the Dome called the "tholos."
    History & Discoveries

  Artfully Yours, George Washington

While George Washington never actually graced the halls of the U.S. Capitol, his presence, influence and even his likeness, is everywhere including 35 pieces of art.
    History & Discoveries

  Unearthing Capitol Hill's Buried History

Visit Congressional Cemetery and discover the many connections the Architect of the Capitol has to this hallowed ground.
    
                      More Stories Serve. Preserve. Inspire.

              Contact Us
                            Accountability
                            Hill Staff Resources
                            AOC Staff Resources
Utility
  

        
              Privacy Policy
                            Image Terms of Use
                            Inspector General
                            U.S. Botanic Garden
                            U.S. Capitol Visitor CenterFacebook
	Twitter
	Flickr
	YouTube
	Instagram
	Subscribe